Spanish Adaptation of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties

Abstract

Background: Alexithymia study has been severely affected by the absence of psychometrically validated tests. Two tests stand out against all others: the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) and the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ). The aim of this study was to adapt the PAQ questionnaire to a Spanish sample. Method: For that purpose, it was translated and revised to make both version match in meaning trough a backward translation procedure. The target construct was delimited through a battery of six tests measuring related to alexithymia constructs. The battery was administered to n = 762 (47.2% males), with a retest applied 30 days after with n = 117 subjects. Results: The confirmatory factor analyses showcased a better adjustment in the model that included affective valence as a factor. The exploratory analysis delivered a trifactorial structure. The questionnaire obtained an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .955). Correlations with the related constructs confirmed all the hypotheses. Conclusions: Our results confirm our hypothesis: PAQ is a valid and reliable assessment tool for alexithymia. The adapted version performed well contrasted with questionnaires assessing emotional expression, regulation and appraisal as well as psychological distress and even the TAS-20.

Keywords

• alexithymia
• perth alexithymia questionnaire
• paq
• toronto alexithymia scale
• tas-20
• clinical psychology.